Indian-origin engineer Dhruv Loya recently shared on LinkedIn the inspiring journey he undertook to secure a job at Tesla. Loya applied to more than 300 jobs and sent over 500 cold emails during his extended job search. Despite his solid academic background and experience in three internships, he encountered an unexpectedly difficult job market. His journey involved not only searching for jobs but also managing financial challenges and navigating the complexities of visa requirements in the United States.
The months of waiting brought uncertainty and required substantial financial sacrifice. Loya, determined to pursue his career, reduced his expenses, stayed with friends, and often slept on air mattresses. Losing his lease and health insurance compounded his worries, especially given the constant pressure of maintaining his visa status as an international student. Facing potential deportation if he couldn’t secure employment, he kept pushing forward.
In his LinkedIn post, Loya expressed disbelief that, despite a good GPA, internships, and extracurricular involvement, he faced five months of unemployment. He shared the stress of losing stability, all while knowing that his visa clock was ticking.
Loya took a proactive approach to his job search, dedicating full days to applications and networking. He utilized Indeed, LinkedIn, and Handshake for opportunities and Hunter.io to reach out to companies directly. Additionally, he used ChatGPT to polish his resumes and cover letters, aiming to stand out in a competitive job market.
Emphasizing self-care, Loya advised others navigating tough searches to relax in the evenings to prevent burnout, highlighting the importance of maintaining a positive outlook.
Eventually, his efforts paid off, and Loya secured a role as a Technical Support Specialist at Tesla. His journey reflects the many obstacles international students face in finding employment and the resilience required to achieve success. Loya encourages others to stay optimistic and persistent, reminding them that with hard work, things will eventually fall into place.
